Harald Plum in Copenhagen

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This picture shows Harald Plum, who sold canned food during the war to troops on both sides. Businessmen like Plum were nicknamed ‘war-rich profiteers’.

Throughout the war Denmark managed to maintain trade relations with both the Central Powers and the Allies. Danish politicians and business people travelled back and forth between the warring capital cities in an effort to maintain neutrality and the right to export.

As the war dragged on and the need for provisions increased, new markets emerged for business people in Denmark. Exports of canned food rose dramatically during the war. There were 21 producers of canned food in pre-war Denmark, rising to 148 during the conflict. Many enterprising businessmen earned a fortune on exports of Hungarian goulash of questionable quality.

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